A DEFIANT Graeme Souness last night flashed a "we'll be back" message to the despondent travelling Geordie faithful.

Newcastle failed yet again to end their trophy quest yesterday when a rampant Manchester thumped their United counterparts 4-1 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The defeat for the Tynesiders means it will be 51 years in 2006 since they last lifted a domestic trophy, 37 years for silverware of any sort, and another season Alan Shearer has gone without picking up a winners medal with his hometown club.

The Newcastle boss admitted he was gutted for his players and the fans after the game but tried to remain positive despite the comprehensive defeat, their second in a week after being dumped out of the UEFA Cup last Thursday.

"We'll be back for another semi-final, maybe not at Cardiff, but we'll be back,'' said the 51-year-old Scot.

Souness admitted the intensive travelling added to the injuries and suspensions had finally caught up with his leggy Newcastle side as they strived on two fronts to win a coveted trophy.

"We had two 18-year-olds and a 19-year-old on the pitch," added Souness. "We did on Thursday trying to win a UEFA Cup quarter-final and again trying to get into the FA Cup final.

"There was a couple of things I felt didn't go for us but I'll have to sit and watch on the TV again. But we played a very good (Manchester) United.

"We've played two games and travelled to Lisbon since they've (Manchester United) last played.

"Given the suspensions and injuries it was always going to be a difficult afternoon for us. They are a good team.

"Ideally I would have liked to be playing them with everybody fit and rested but that wasn't the case.

"But you've always got to believe you can win it.

"We didn't get started in the first-half and the game was won in the first-half.

"In the second-half we got a goal and I would have liked another to make it 3-2 but it wasn't to be.

"I can't be critical of any of my players. We've been bashed physically and mentally on Thursday night and sometimes it takes you 45 minutes of football to get your legs going after that. I think that was the case with us and we lost it in the first-half."

Souness yesterday brought back controversial French winger Laurent Robert into the side.

Robert had been dropped for Thursday's UEFA Cup tie against Sporting Lisbon for comments he made about the team going backwards instead of forwards.

The United boss did not want to discuss disciplinary matters after the game, saying he was only interested in discussing footballing issues.

He did comment that he "felt he (Robert) was the best man for the job" however, and revealed Robert had apologised to his team-mates about the comments he made last week.

Despite being knocked out of two competitions in four days and ultimately all but ending United's season, Souness still believes they can still salvage something from the campaign.

He takes his side to Norwich on Wednesday night and said: "We have seven hard games left and we have to somehow regroup. I don't think it's psychological at this stage.

"If you're winning you don't feel the tiredness. I think at times we did look a tired team in the first-half and indeed in the second-half towards the end.

"But we somehow have to find the energy and the togetherness on Wednesday night. We can only take one game at a time.

"Norwich are fighting for their lives and it will be a hard game for us.

"We have a long way to go before our season is over. We have seven games to play."

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